Linking Entrepreneurs’ Felt Responsibility to Ventures’ Innovation Performance: The Roles of External Learning and Shared Vision

INTRODUCTION: In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, innovation has become a crucial factor for the success of entrepreneurial ventures in China. However, the mechanisms underlying the promotion of innovation by entrepreneurs are not yet fully understood. Drawing on self-determination theory, this study develops a comprehensive “motivation-behaviors-performance” model to examine the relationship between entrepreneurs’ felt responsibility for constructive change and ventures’ innovation performance. METHODS: Two waves of questionnaire surveys with a sample of 376 entrepreneurs in East China were conducted. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to test the hypotheses. RESULTS: The empirical findings demonstrate that entrepreneurs’ felt responsibility for constructive change is a key driver of innovation performance in ventures. Furthermore, external learning, encompassing technological and market learning, serves as a mediator for the positive link between entrepreneurs’ felt responsibility and innovation performance. The study also reveals that entrepreneurs’ perception of shared vision moderates the relationships between entrepreneurs’ felt responsibility and both technological and market learning, such that the relationships are stronger when the perception of shared vision is higher. DISCUSSION: These results yield important contributions to the entrepreneurial psychology research and self-determination theory. The study also has managerial implications for entrepreneurs aiming to enhance ventures’ innovation performance.